Eared containers metering feed and accumulating apparatus



1 R. A. HEISLER 3,452,323

.EARED CONTAINERS METERING FEED AND ACCUMULATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8,1967 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 26, 19 69 J N VENTOR.

RA YMO/VD A. HE/SL ER GENZ' Aug. 26, 1969 R. A. HEISLER EARED CONTAINERSMETERING FEED AND ACCUMULATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 2 :zEzEi.

AGE/VI.

United States Patent US. Cl. 29208 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA metering feed and accumulating apparatus adapted to receive earedcontainers from a conveyor and to precisely space these containers asthey are fed onto an orienting conveyor. The containers as they arecarried forwardly on their bottoms are also rotated by means of adifferential in speed of two conveying strands. The metering gateincludes two spacially positioned proximity switches adapted to regulatethe fiow of containers through the gate to provide a determined spacing.Subsequent to the gate an ear-engaging means is adapted to orient thecontainer as it is advanced and in an oriented state the earedcontainers are fed past a third proximity switch positioned a determineddistance from a bail-applying apparatus. This third proximity switch isspaced and is connected to actuating means of the bail-applyingapparatus so that a determined quantity of eared containers are broughtinto contiguous relationship to each other and the apparatus before thebail-apparatus is actuated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of art towhich this invention pertains is in the general class of Wire Workingand more particularly to the subclass of applying wire in which subclassis generally found the apparatus for forming and applying wire bails toeared containers. Another subclass also pertinent to this invention isthe subclass of making bails under the general subclass of articlemaking or forming.

Another field of the art to which this patent pertains is to the classof Conveyors, Power-Driven and to the subclass thereunder of articletransfer, article controlled; and to circular articles, also arrangingarticles on conveyors by orienting articles and by spacing.

Description of the prior art In my US. Patent No. 3,241,578 issued onMar. 22, 1966 there is shown apparatus for providing bails on earedcontainers, which apparatus includes means for orienting and stopping aneared container in a precise position during the forming and applicationof wire bail to an eared container.

In particular in this above-identified patent there is shown a sensingdevice which is disposed so as to engage an ear of an advancingcontainer as this container is moved forwardly on a conveying means. Inresponse to the activation of the sensing device the bail-forming andapplying apparatus is activated so that as the container is brought inthe way of said bail-forming and applying apparatus the ends of the bailare inserted into the ears of the container. In order to insure theproper orientation of the eared container in this apparatus there isshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of said patent a gate feeding mechanism adaptedto receive and space eared containers upon a conveyor in a determinedmanner. These containers as they are discharged from this gate feedingmechanism are propelled forwardly upon a plurality of strands of aconveyor. One of these strands is traveling at a faster rate than theother strands so as to cause the container to ro- 3,462,823 PatentedAug. 26, 1969 tate as it is advanced forwardly. As the container isrotated, one of the ears of the container is brought in the way of anear-engaging rail whereby the rotation of the container is stopped andthe can is transported forwardly in a preselected oriented condition.

Bail-applying apparatus as shown and described receive and space earedcontainers upon the conveyor in such spaced array that oftentimes theclutch mechanism of the bail-applying apparatus may be activated foreach or nearly each container as it is brought in the way of theapparatus. As for example, if the apparatus is adapted to bail sixtycontainers a minute and the feeding rate from the supply is ten totwenty containers per minute the clutch will be actuated substantiallyten to twenty times per minute. Such clutch actuation reduces the lifeexpectancy of the clutch and may require frequent shut-downs for thenecessary repairs. Particularly in the case of apparatus providing bailsto five-gallon eared containers the clutch mechanism necessary tooperate this apparatus may couple a five horsepower motor to theapparatus and is a short-cycle load each time the apparatus is startedand stopped. Where these starts are multi-times per minute the clutchmust be overdesigned or has a short life.

When the containers are brought to the apparatus at a constant or fixedrate corresponding to the operating speed of the bail-applying apparatusit is possible and practical to operate the apparatus for continuousperiods without stopping the bail-applying apparatus for the receipt ofindividual containers. It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a metering gate adapted to release eared containers with apredetermined spacing onto an orienting conveyor so that the ears of thecontainer may be brought to a predetermined oriented position and, afterthe container has been oriented, to feed this container to thebail-applying apparatus Where the containers are accumulated until adetermined number of containers is contiguously arrayed on the conveyor,after which the bail-applying apparatus is activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the detailed description of the drawings tobe hereinafter more fully described there is shown a container meteringgate adapted to space eared containers a determined distance apart asthey are delivered to an orienting conveyor. After orientation there isprovided a determined length of conveyor adapted to receive the orientedcontainers and accumulate a determined number of containers before thebail-applying apparatus is actuated. At the receiving end of thisorienting conveyor system there is provided a metering gate which isadapted to receive an eared container and to pass this eared containerby a first proximity switch placed at a determined distance from acontainer retaining and releasing mechanism. A short determined distancedownstream from this first proximity switch there is disposed a secondproximity switch which is programmed with the first proximity switch.These two switches operate in concert with the metering gate so that anestablished determined spacing is provided between containers so as toinsure unimpeded orientation of a leading container and all subsequentcontainers as they are fed onto the conveyor.

The programmed or actuation cycle of the first of the two proximityswitches is such that with the power on the metering gate is caused tobe open as the first or leading container enters and passes through thegate' As the container passes by this first proximity switch, a valve orsolenoid is actuated to close the gate. As this container continuesdownstream on the conveyor and by the second proximity switch, the valveor solenoid is reversed so that the gate is again opened, whereby asecond container is permitted to pass through the gate. If the secondcontainer has already entered with the gate closed,

the second container is now released to pass by the first and secondproximity switches.

At a later position downstream on the conveyor, a third proximity switchis disposed at a determined distance upstream from the bail-applyingposition in the bailapplying apparatus. This determined distance, asexemplified, is the distance of three containers in side-to-sideengagement on the conveyor. The third proximity switch is so spaced andinterconnetced with a time-delay relay so that a container travelingpast this third proximity switch does not influence the metering gateand does not actuate the bail-applying apparatus until containers twoand three to follow are in position. With the bailapplying apparatusstopped, the leading container is held in the apparatus and containertwo is on the conveyor and is in engagement with container one. When thethird container arrives it remains in a stop position opposite the thirdproximity switch for a determined period of time, which is longer than atime delay programmer adapted to permit a container to pass withoutactuation of the proximity switch. Upon actuation of the proximityswitch the bail-applying mechanism is started and continues to runwithout declutching as long as an adequate supply of containers is fedto the apparatus. The actuation of the apparatus is by means of an earsensing switch on the cover stop arms of the bail-applying mechanism.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metering gate adapted forreceiving and feeding eared containers in spaced array on and to anorienting conveyor, whereupon said spaced containers are rotated in adetermined manner for the orientation by engagement of their ears by astop rail and after their orientation a determined number of containersis accumulated before they are fed to and through a bail-applyingapparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for receivinga supply of eared containers from a source and by means of a meteringgate to feed these containers in a spaced array to an orientingconveyor, said metering gate actuated in response to a pair of spacedproximity switches downstream of the gate and, programmed so that acontainer must pass the second switch before the gate is opened for asucceeding container to feed to the conveyor; and after orientation theeared containers are accumulated so that at least a determined number oforiented containers are adapted for sequential feeding at a determinedrate of speed to a bail-applying apparatus absent the declutching of theapparatus.

INTENT OF THE DISCLOSURE Although the following disclosure offered forpublic dissemination is detailed to insure adequacy and aid in theunderstanding of the invention, this is not intended to prejudice thatpurpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept thereinno matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form oradditions of further improvements. The claims at the end hereof areintended as the chief aid toward this purpose, as it is these that meetthe requirements of pointing out the parts, improvements, combinationsor methods in which the inventive concepts are found.

There has been chosen a specific embodiment of the metering gate andorienting conveyor for eared containers as adapted for programmed usetherewith and showing a preferred means for feeding an accumulation ofeared containers to a bail-applying mechanism. This specific embodimenthas been chosen for the purposes of illustration and description asshown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a fragmentary planview of the conveyor of this invention and showing in particular themetering gate and the arrangement of the proximity switches programmedto actuate the gate in relation to the movement of an eared container toa bail-applying apparatus;

FIG. 2 represents in a slightly enlarged scale a fragmentary isometricview showing an eared container as it rests upon the conveyor and asengaged and retained by the metering gate of this invention;

FIG. 3 represents a schematic circuit diagram showing a preferredoperational control of the metering gate of this invention;

FIG. 4 represents in a slightly enlarged view a container as it restsupon the conveyor and as the container is brought in the way of thecover stop arms of the bailapplying apparatus;

FIG. 5 represents in a greatly enlarged view a fragmentary sectionalview of the switch or the signal actuating system operated inconjunction with the cover stop arms, and

FIG. 6 represents a partly fragmentary schematic circuit diagram showingthe circuit as actuated by the sensing switches in the cover stop armsof the bail-applying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inwhich like numbers refer to like members throughout the several drawingsand in particular to FIG. 1 wherein on a base 10 there are providedconveying chains 12 and 14 upon which an eared container 16 is adaptedfor transportation. At the right end of this figure there is seen ametering gate in which arms 18 and 20 may be pivotally swung toward andaway from the chains 12 and 14. In this particular embodiment there isshown flexible strapping 22 carried on the inner portions of both arms18 and 20. This flexible strapping is adapted to provide a conventionalmeans for grasping the sides of a container without marking the exteriorsurface of the container, which may have been freshly lithographed. Asseen particularly in FIG. 2, the arms 18 and 20 are disposed justabovethe conveyor chains 12 and 14 and engage and retain the containerat or near its bottom so that in stopping the eared container thecontainer may be retained upon the chains with a minimum of tendency forthe container to tip.

The mechanism to move the arms 18 and 20 is diagrammatically shown inFIG. 3 wherein arm 18 is represented as being carried on a shaft 24.This shaft is rotatably carried in a bearing or bearings not shown andretained in the frame 10. In the preferred embodiment shown, the lowerend of shaft 24 is fixedly connected to an arm 26. In like manner, arm20 is carried by shaft 28, which is carried in a bearing or bearings notshown and retained in the frame 10. An arm 30 is fixedly attached to thelower end of shaft 28 and as the arm 30 is moved the shaft is rotated. Apivot pin 32 joins arms 26 and 30 with a tension spring 34 adapted tourge arms 26 and 30 to a gate closed position as shown in FIG. 3. Apusher 36 which may be carried by and actuated by a solenoid or apneumatic cylinder 38 is exemplified as the gate actuator or motivepower 38. As the pusher 36 is moved forwardly the arms 18 and 20 arecaused to swing outwardly to release an eared container 16. As seen inboth FIGS. 1 and 3, a first proximity switch 40 is mounted just to theleft of the metering gate so that as container 16 passes by said firstproximity switch 40, a first signal is sent by means of conductors 42and 44 and sent from a program station 46 to the motor unit 38. Furtherto the left in FIG. 1 and downstream from the first proximity switch 40is a second proximity switch 48 which is also connected, as shown inFIG. 3, to the switch programmer 46.

OPERATION OF THE METERING GATE The function of this gate is as follows:with the power off, the spring 34 urges pusher 36 backwardly or to theright (FIG. 3) so that the gate is closed and a container may enter thegate as shown in FIG. 1. The container is retained by the closed gateand may not proceed downstream on the conveyor chains 12 and 14 untilreleased by the gate. When the power comes on, the gate is actuated bythe moving of the pusher 36 forwardly, the gate arms 18 and 20 are swungoutwardly and the container 16 passes therethrough. When the containerpasses proximity switch 40, the switch 46 is actuated to cause the motormeans 38 to be cut off, whence the spring 34 moves the gate to theposition seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this condition or position anycontainer following the first container is engaged and detained by themetering gate. As the first container passes the second proximity switch48, the switch or valve programmer 46 is again reversed, causing themotive power 38 to move the pusher 36 foiward to cause the gate to open.The opening of the gate releases the second container which thereuponfollows the same procedure in that as it passes the proximity switch 40causes the gate to close, and when it passes proximity switch 48 itcauses the gate to open. As this process is repeated, each succeedingcontainer is spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between theproximity switches 46 and 48. This distance is a determined distanceascertained as necessary to permit the container to make a maximumdegree of rotation for orientation of the container by moving the ear toand against an earengaging rail 50 as shown in FIG. 1.

After the container 16 has passed the ear-engaging rail 50, it entersthe bail-applying apparatus as indicated by a portion of the main plate54 upon which is mounted cover stop arms 56 and 58, which stop arms areadapted to engage ears 52 and 60 of container 16a. When these earsengage the stop arms, the forward progress of the container, of course,is stopped until such time as the bail-applying apparatus inserts a bailinto the cars 52 and 60. In order to prevent actuation of the apparatusupon the receipt of the first container 16a, a third proximity switch 62operatively connected into the bail-applying actuation circuit is spaceda determined distance back from the ear-engaging main plate 54. Thisdistance upstream from the apparatus is equal to a determined number ofcontainers, which in this particular case, as illustrated, is three. Theeared containers oriented in a predetermined position as they arepropelled to a stop position are brought substantially contiguous toeach other. The proximity switch 62 is interconnected with a timedelayrelay so that as container 16a passes by at a normal rate of travel theproximity switch 62 is not actuated. So also does the second container16b pass by switch 62 without actuation of the switch. When container160 is stopped opposite switch 62, it remains there. The proximityswitch 62 is connected into a time-delay relay and is positioned so thatthree containers must be in posltion before the bail-applying apparatusis actuated. After the container 16c has come in the way of theproximity switch 62 and is caused to remain there for determined shortlength of time, the time delay is expired, whence the bail-applyingapparatus is started and runs without declutching as long as containers16 are brought into the apparatus to actuate a signalling device mountedin the cover stop arms 56 and 58.

Referring next to FIG. 4, it is to be noted that the main frame 54 ofthe bail-applying apparatus of my aboveidentified patent is shown aslooking upstream from the downstream side of the apparatus. Upon each ofthe cover stop arms 56 and 58 as carried by the main frame 54, there aremounted switch devices 70 and 72 which are connected by wires 74 and 76to an operating circuit to be hereinafter described.

Referring next to FIG. 5, it is to be noted that ear 60 is positioned onthe container so that as it moves forwardly the ear engages contacts 78and 79' to actuate a switch mechanism 80. Switch mechanism 80 is anormally open switch which is adapted to be closed by the car 60 as itengages and moves the contacts 78 and 79 leftward. When the switch isclosed, it closes one part of a bail-applying actuating circuit. Theswitch construction shown in FIG. 5 is only merely one exemplificationCPI of a switch mechanism, as many types of switch arrangements may beused. This switch provides ear-engaging contacts 78 and 79 which aredisposed to engage and receive the ear 60 as the container is movedforwardly. This switch is also adapted to stop the forward motion of theear 60 as well as to close the contacts of the switch for actuation ofthe bail-applying apparatus.

Referring finally to FIG. 6, it is to be noted that this fragmentaryportion of the schematic circuit of the bailapplying apparatus is shownonly to provide the relation of switches 70 and 72 to the ircuit. Asseen, the switches 70 and 72 are normally open and are fed from one leg82 of a one hundred ten volt service. From closed switch 72, current isfed through conductor 84 to one side of a solenoid 85 adapted to actuatea dual switch having a pair of normally open contacts 86 and 87. Incombination with solenoid 85 there is an indicator light 88 which iscontemplated as being panel mounted so that the operator may ascertainthat the circuit is working as the ear of the container is brought inthe way of the switch 72 carried by the cover arm.

From closed switch 70 current is fed through line 90 to one side of asolenoid 92 also adapted to actuate a dual switch having a pair ofnormally open contacts 93 and 94. In combination with solenoid 92 thereis provided another indicator light 96 which is preferably panel mountedso that the operator may ascertain that the circuit is working as theear of the container engages and actuates switch 70.

This portion of the circuit and other apparatus may be included in acontrol box 98 indicated in phantom outline. It is only important thatthe switches 70 and 72 must both be closed before the circuit feedingcurrent to bailapplying mechanism can be actuated and in addition thethird proximity switch must be actuated to cause the bailapplyingapparatus to be activated.

This circuit also includes a holding circuit which in effect holds thebail-applying clutch in engaged position irrespective of proximityswitch 62 as long as eared containers are continued to be fed to andthrough the bailapplying apparatus and at the contemplated operatingrate of the apparatus. As soon as the apparatus has applied bails to allthose containers that have been oriented and presented to the apparatusand the bail-applying apparatus has declutched, the hold on the circuitceases and the proximity switch 62 again becomes eifective so that anaccumulation of oriented containers must be made before the apparatus isagain activated for bail-application.

The proximity switch 62 is also preferably connected to a timer circuitwhich is adapted to shut down the bailapplying apparatus and to shut offthe power to the metering gate to close the gate. This actuation of theshut-down is provided when a container remains adjacent the proximityswitch for a determined long period of time, which long time may be theamount of time necessary to fill the conveyor with stalled earedcontainers extending substantially to the metering gate.

OPERATION OF THE METERING AND ACCUMULATING APPARATUS The eared containermetering gate and accumulating feed of this invention above-describedprovides that, with the power 0 to the bail-applying apparatus, themetering gate is closed, with spring 34 moving the arms 18 and 20 to theclosed position. With power on the gate is open for the passage of theleading eared container and the gate operates to meter containers asdescribed above. The spaced eared containers, as fed by said meteringgate, are rotated and advanced by chains 12 and 14 and one of the earsof the container 16 engages rail 50, whence the rotation ceases and thecontainers are advanced toward and to the bail-applying mechanism. Whenthe ears of the leading container 16a are engaged by the cover stop arms56 and 5'8, the container is stopped and the succeeding containers 16band 16c are stopped as they come in engagement with the precedingcontainer.

As each container passes the third proximity switch 62 it actuates theswitch and a time delay which blocks the completing of a bail-applyingoperation until a determined short period of time elapses. Absent thepresence of a preceding can the actuating container passes by theproximity switch before the time delay is completed. When the container160 is blocked by the preceding container the proximity switch isactuated when the primary time delay is exhausted. A second time delaymay be included, which time is computed on the probable minimum time tocompletely fill the conveyor from switch three to the metering gate.This second time delay preferably shuts off both the gate andbail-applying apparatus as well as causing an alarm signal to beactuated.

The metering gate and means for accumulation abovedescribed providemeans for the bail-applying apparatus to receive eared containers in anoriented array and in groups having a determined minimum quantity. Themodifications to the bail-applying apparatus as identified in my US.Patent 3,241,578 insures that the improved bailapplying apparatus willfunction more efficiently and with a reduced amount of wear.

Terms such as in, out, up, down, upstream, downstream, open, closed andthe like are applied to the metering gate and eared containeraccumulating means as shown and described in conjunction with thedrawings. These terms are used above merely for the purposes ofdescription and do not necessarily apply to a particular position inwhich the apparatus may be constructed or used.

The conception of the metering gate and accumulating meansabove-described and their application is not limited to the embodimentabove-described but departures therefrom may be made within the scope ofthe accompanying claims and protection is sought to the broadest extentthe prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A metering gate feed for eared containers and the like wherein saidcontainers may be delivered from a source and in an irregularly spacedand oriented array, and from the gate the containers are fed to anorienting conveyor in response to the movement of the containersthereon, the gate providing a minimum determined spacing betweensucceeding containers as they are delivered to the orienting conveyor,the metering gate and feed including: (a) a support frame; (b) aninfeeding conveyor means adapted to receive in a randomly spaced andoriented array a succession of eared containers and to transport thesecontainers forwardly in a single file; (c) a metering gate adapted toreceive the single filed eared containers and to regulate the dischargeof these containers one-at-a-time, the gate including a pair of arms atleast one of which is movable toward the other arm and into the path ofthe container so as to engage and stop the forward progress of thecontainer, said arm movable from the path of the container to permit thecontainer to be transported forwardly on the conveyor; (d) means to moveat least one arm to the limits of movement defining the open and closedpositions of the gate; (e) a first switch means disposed downstream ofthe gate arm, the switch actuated in response to the passing of acontainer thereby, the switch adapted to cause an actuation of the gatearm to a gate-closed position, and (f) a second switch means disposed adetermined distance from the first switch and further downstream on theconveyor, the second switch in response to the passing of the containercausing the arm to be moved to the gate-open position.

2. A metering gate feed as in claim 1 in which there are two gate arms,both arms movable and in substantially equal amounts, the arms adaptedto engage the container near its bottom as the container is transportedforwardly on its bottom.

3. A metering gate feed as in claim 1 in which the first and secondswitch means are proximity switches adapted to be actuated by metalcontainers as they are moved forwardly on the conveyor.

4. A metering gate feed as in claim 2 in which the orienting conveyorincludes at least two strands of chain and the like, the strands adaptedto engage the bottom of and support the container, one of the strandsadvancing at a more rapid rate than the other to cause the earedcontainer to rotate as it is advanced.

5. A metering gate feed as in claim 2 in which the arms are providedwith a flexible facing means so disposed and adapted as to engage theside of the container as it is brought in the way of the arms, theflexible facings adapted to engage the side of the container withoutdamage to the exterior surface of the container which may be a label,lithographing and the like.

6. A metering gate feed as in claim 2 in which the container engagingarms of the gate are actuated by the motion of a pair of lower leverarms, these lever arms actuated by motor means including a pusheradapted to engage and move the lever arms to open the gate, and biasingmeans adapted to urge the lever arms to a gate-closed position.

7. A metering gate feed as in claim 6 in which the motor means is apneumatic cylinder.

8. A metering gate feed as in claim 6 in which the motor means is asolenoid.

9. A metering gate feed as in claim 2 in which the orienting conveyorincludes a container orienting means and a third switch means, saidthird switch disposed a determined distance upstream from abail-applying apparatus and the like, the switch operatively connectedto said apparatus to actuate the apparatus, the switch adapted to beactivated by containers as they are moved on the conveyor, the thirdswitch cooperatively connected to a time delay means adapted to nullifythe actuation of the switch for the determined time period so acontainer passing the switch at the speed of the conveyor does notresult in the actuation of the applying apparatus, and whereby acontainer that does not pass the switch within said time delay periodcauses the applying apparatus to be actuated.

10. A metering gate feed as in claim 9 in which the third switch is aproximity switch and the determined distance upstream from the apparatusis at least the distance of three containers in contiguous engagementwith each other when in the stopped position.

11. A metering gate feed as in claim 9 in which the third switch iscooperatively connected to a second time delay means adapted to beactuated after a longer determined time period and in response to saidactuation the gate mechanism is moved so as to close the gate to afurther feeding of containers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,162,294 12/1964 Diester 198-64EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 19833. 34

